About 80 residents lashed out when they learned there were no representatives from Chatham County during a Magnolia Park Neighborhood Association meeting Thursday night.

At one point, a man in the audience read out loud for everyone to take down the work phone number of the absent Commissioner Patrick Shay, who represents the area.

Staff and aldermen from the City of Savannah ended up taking the hits spurred by concerns and frustration with Chatham’s proposed improvement plan for Skidaway Road.

The county recently unveiled the plan during an open house on July 19, but the crowd, composed of about 80 residents from Magnolia Park, as well as Bacon Park and Sandfly, made it clear they were not impressed and had a lot of questions that remained unanswered.

“We need to tell the county and the city to take their so-called improvements and stick them where the sun doesn’t shine,” said Beth Kinstler of the group Preserving Savannah Neighborhoods.

Michael Weiner, Savananh’s director of traffic engineering, took the podium first in an attempt to explain the county’s plan, although the city is only a consultant for the project that lies within both city and county boundaries.

Residents have questioned the need for the proposed six to eight-foot wide paths from Victory Drive and Ferguson Avenue, in addition to a roundabout at the intersection of Montgomery Cross Road.

Weiner said that the project is mainly meant to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers, but residents said there are no significant dangers. Others worried about increased traffic racing through their neighborhoods during construction.

There was confusion about a lot of the plan, with residents making claims about the project that Weiner, as well as Aldermen Mary Ellen Sprague and John Hall said were not sure of.

One such concern was whether an additional access road would be built at the city dump across from the Bacon Park tennis courts. Some residents believe a connection there to the baseball fields is meant to serve a planned development — a claim the city officials denied. Weiner said he believed the current entrance was supposed to be eliminated to reduce the number of access points for safety reasons, but was not sure if the county had decided to maintain both.

Donald Consos, Magnolia Park association president, said he sent numerous invitations to Shay, Commissioner Helen Stone — who also represents a section of Skidaway — and Chairman Pete Liakakis, in addition to county engineers.

Sprague said she would contact county officials to get the residents concerns addressed.

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Along with Pat Shay. This is just the next phase in a long range plan to destroy the Forest and recreational areas in Bacon Park (Bacon Park Camp Grounds 15 acres.)

Everyone in that room was angry because they all had documents where this plan had been in place for some time, funded with tax payer dollars, with no [filtered word] meetings or notice by the City of Savannah, the BOE or Pat Shay.

It was mentioned more than once that there was no representation in the last 8 years on the county commission as Pat Shay only represents himself and what ever deals he's cutting with city council.

Everyone in that room kinew that Mike Weiner (Savannah Traffic Engineer), Mary Ellen Sprague (especially) along with Edna Jackson are liars. They were called liars to their faces and those tax payers had the documentation to back it up.

This Skidaway Road Plan was referenced in the Oglethorpe Academy's site plan prepared by Thomas and Huttton (Craig Zuck, PE.)

Go to the cities website and click on government www.savannahga.gov and go to city council meetings and minutes and click on August 11, 2011 and then go to page 5.

They were told off about being a bunch of sneaks and liars and the fact no one wanted that school, it was all planned behind closed doors using tax payer money because they knew no one wanted that school.

Mike Weiner lied when he said he didn't know anything because the city has already approved this project.

They say I'm speculating but I'd be willing to bet money that this project never goes past Bona Bella Avenue.

On top of all of that the drainage for this project goes into the Bacon Park neighborhood where the city already diverts storm water for the 4th district. The city is holding a hit list in their data bases of some 34 residents that have been targeted to be driven from their homes over all this storm water diversion.

My word to all of them last night is to come into acceptance that come January, the city of Savannah is leaving Bacon Park because we are de-annexing. Bacon Park doesn't owe the city of Savannah or the Board of Education one dime in tax payer revenue, they owe us for all the damages, stress, destruction and pain and suffering they've caused

A pitiful turnout during the primaries with most running unopposed. They do not really give a darn about your complaints. Most of them are selfserving only interested in ways that they can improve their own bottom line. Getting quality people to run is extremely difficult because of what the process entails. Sad situation.

For crying out loud - here we go again. Another project that ISN'T needed. There is nothing wrong with Skidaway Road as it is. It's not overloaded with traffic and when the traffic is a little heavier, it runs smoothly. It could, however, use repaving for the most part. A roundabout at the intersection of Montgomery Crossroad? What?!!! I bet there are ANY photos of traffic back up at that intersection. Seems like the officials in this city and county lack common sense. They put things on paper and they seem shocked with citizens complain that the plan is not good. Why spend all the money for no reason? How much money does the city and county spend studying these projects? They need to have a public meeting FIRST and take into consideration what the citizens and business owners in the areas have to say before they even spend one dime on a study. Skidaway doesn't need to be widened.
I'm out of the loop on exactly that the BOE has to do with this but all of the politicians can be voted out but the key is VOTER TURN OUT.

People get the government they deserve. Personally I was thrilled that they built the new school on Central. The other plan called for section 8 housing. I like the idea of a roundabout. Especially if they do something classy in the center. That intersection is a bit messy.

Incumbent is a bad word with me. An automatic disqualifier. We need new blood. Come on in and give it your best shot, then move on. It was good to see Pete's attempt to hang in there shot down down. Term limits for all!

"Elections, especially of representatives and counselors, should be annual … These great men … should be [chosen] once a year – Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne, they rise, they break, and to the sea return. This will teach them the great political virtues of humility, patience, and moderation, without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey." - John Adams

"To prevent every danger which might arise to American freedom from continuing too long in office, it is earnestly recommended that we set an obligation on the holder of that office to go out after a certain period." - Thomas Jefferson

I may be wrong on the Section 8, but my recollection is that the campgrounds were a possible site for section 8 homes. I deal with the Mont. Xroads, Skidaway, Central intersection. It is not the highest priority for road work, but a round-a-bout idea is interesting to me. The parts of the plan past Skidaway and Eisenhower I won't speak to. I rarely go that way and will leave it to the people that do.

and amended in to the Georgia Constitution. Why do you think it has been sitting there untouched for all these years?

It is not for you or anyone else to think about what you would like.

The property was put under covenants and amended into the constitution for protection and those documents describe the process of de-annexation for violation.

Congratulations on you victory for the school. The city forfeited their rights and kicked disabled people off the property for the Elite, Arrogant and Gifted like a bunch of barbarians and low class individuals that they are.

Just like throwing the mentally ill in the street and in jail and 150 employees under the bus to swap Georgia Regional out with a developer to build some Low Income Housing.

The best way I know to explain to you about that school is nothing more than a prison and the foundation it was built on is greed:

To learn more about the true history and design of Bacon Park recreational areas you can visit www.rooseveltrehab.org. There is a direct and significant relationship between Bacon Park and Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for recreational rehabilitation.

Chatham County Commissioner Arthur Solomon is considered the "Father" and creator of Bacon Park.

He was dear friends with Franklin Roosevelt and in April of 1937 a unit of the Civilian Conservation Corps #460 came from Cockspur Island and was assigned to Bacon Park to begin building up the recreational areas. To know more about County Commissioner Judge Arthur Solomon you can visit www.solomoncamelliatrail.com.

It is tragic that the Bacon Park Camp Grounds was destroyed for no good reason other than greed and arrogance.

Residents overwhelmingly supported that property to be used as permanent home and camp grounds for disabled youth with special needs. You can visit their website at www.lindseysplace.org.

Camp Dream at Roosevelt's Warm Springs Institute is the perfect model of what should be the permanent home for Lindsey's Place in Bacon Park.

City and Board of Education Justify destroying Bacon Park’s Recreational Areas............If the City of Savannah and the Board of Education were so concerned about the environmental conditions of the building that Oglethorpe Academy occupies, they had a brand new turnkey school that sat vacant for two years out on Whitmarsh Island. They could have put them have in that building anytime.

So now you, the City of Savannah, the Board of Education, the Governing Board of Oglethorpe Academy and all their supports (like you) that think that is such a great idea are nothing more than bullies who in the end will displace and force people from their homes and caused an awful lot of pain and suffering.

That school is an Island and they are not welcomed in our community. They need to always remember that.

and hostility they've caused that they would be getting behind the opposition to tearing up the Bacon Park Forest and other recreational areas with the Skidaway Road Project that City Council and the BOE initiated.

The Board of Education didn't come to be a part of our community, they are trying to force themselves and take over Bacon Park.

Heavy price to pay so Mary Ellen Sprague can show off for her friends at the Board of Education and certain other people can land millions in tax payer contracts isn't it?

I do not support the school or know much about it. I just don't want section 8 anywhere near me. As for this "camp ground", I have driven past it almost daily my entire life I don't ever recall it being used. So spare me the poor disabled kids crap, as if that was your motive anyway.

Because there is a school sitting on that site now, and I don't recall seeing any lawsuits or injunctions. Even if everything you say is right, they are not going to tear the school down and plant trees again. You lost, time to move along.

What you don't know is a lot. Those politicians got called out on that road project and gutting two more recreational areas to accomodate that school and more and more and more development.

There is and will be more law suits....one already settled. Insurance companies don't like paying for damages caused to home owners and they will recover any payouts for flooding and fire.

As far as the disabled, they've been out there for a long time. Shame on you! Don't get mad because these politicians are getting called out for sneaky deals and lies.

I have moved along, right on into unincorporated Chatham County. That school maybe sitting there but the people who built it are leaving very soon, sooner than they think and taking their property limits signs with them.

I call it the "final solution" so that the people and tax payers who invested in this community and care what happens to it don't have to sit in meetings like we have for the last eight years and last night.

Ride down Eisenhower Drive and look at Georgia Regional Hospital, Goodwill Industires (rehab programs!) and Kicklighter Center. Bacon Park is and has always been about the disabled and recreational rehabilitation.

Judging from the news coverage last night, some people have realized whose crazy and whose not.

Lucky for all of us no one believes or pays any attention to a couple of nasty know it all snipes like the two of you.

It's your dime that's paying for all of that construction and all you have to say is to take a swipe at a posted comment?

We've met the criteria to de-annex and we won't be the ones paying the city taxes anymore.

I can understnad the comments though. It took me a long time and a couple of state senators for these home owners and tax payers to understand that under Georgia Law if a parcel that has been annexed is surrounded by an unincorporated county, legally, they can de-annex.

Several counties around Georgia who have been successful have been very helpful in sharing the process of de-annexation.